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A. l. NICHT, In. MOTOR CONTROL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED we. 23. 1919. RENEWED JULY 2, 1921.

1,399,983. Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET A. J. NIGHT, Ja.

MOTORCONTROL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AIJGJZI. I919. RENEWED IULY 1, I921.

1,399,983, Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

umrso STATE-S PATENT OFFICE.

KO'I'OWOQNTIBOL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

Application filed Airgult 23, 1819, Serial xenon. lencwed July 1, 1921. Serial No. 481,982.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ALEXANDER J. Nron'r,'Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, has invented a. certain new and useful Improvement in Motor-Control Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motor-control apperatus and is particularly useful in connection with the control of eplurality of motors used for operatin diverse types of mills such as sugar, meta, paper, etc. It frequently occurs in various types of mills where each of a plurality of sets of rolls, for example, is driven by an individual m0- tor, that it becomes desirable to chan e the relative speeds at which the sets of to are operated. After the relative speeds have been determined and given the proper proportions it may then become desirab e to in crease or decrease the speed of the mill as a whole that/is, the speed of each individual set of rolls or whatever elements the mill may consist of is to be raised or lowered while keeping the relative speeds proportionutely substantially the same.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of an a paratus whereby. motors may be so contro ed as to give the desired results stated above. Another-object of this invention is the provision of a rheostat of the liquid type for accomplishing the above mentioned results. Other objects appear hereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds.

The novel features of this invention will appear from this specification and the accompnnying drawings disclosing one embodiment of said invention, and all these novel features are intended to be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an end elevation of a rheostut embodying the features of the invention, a portion of the casing being broken away.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of that side of the rheostnt upon which simultaneously controlled weirs are located as will more fully be pointed out hereinafter, a portion of the casing being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of that side of the rheostat opposite to that of Fig. 2 9. urban of the casing and other parts belng token awe. in order to more clearly show the m anism.

In the form shown, the rheostat comprises a com site tank 1 made up of on number of m lvidual receptacles 2, 3, 4, ependent upon the number of motors to be controlled. for as the operation of the a paratus is concerned it is not material whet er the receptacles 2, 3, 4 form compartments of a. main tank or are themselves individually built tanks. Each rece tacle 2, 3, at contains suitable electrodes 5 or connection to circuits of the motors to be controlled, which electrodes may be supported in said receptacles in any desired manner. Referring. now more particularly to Fig. 2 it will be seen that each receptacle is revided at the side shown, with one weir 6, 7 or 8). Rcferrin to Fig. 3, the receptacles ure provided at the other side with the weirs 9, 10 or 11. The weirs are here shown as of the shutter. type comprising a plurality of shutters 12, the operation of which is ob viousfrom a more inspection of the figures, and in particular Fig. 1. The operation and advantages of wcirs of this type have been fully set forth in the atent thereon granted to Allis-Chahnors' anufocturin Company, assi nee of H. C. Holthofi, inventor, 1,309,802,?luly 15, 1919. The use of weirs of other types is, however, within the contem lation of the present invention.

e weirs 6, 7, 8 are operated by operating rods 13, 13", 13 respectively, by means of a common shaft 14 acting through cranks 15, 15", 15. The shaft 14 may be oscillated to the desired extent by the mutilated bevel gears 16, 17, the our 16 moving with the lever 18 oscillatab e by any suitable means such as the screw shaft 19 which may be rotated by means here shown as a hand wheel 20. The extent of the motion of the screw shaft 19 may be indicated by any suitable indicator 2-1 which will thus indicate the extent of opening or closure of the weir shuttors. The parts of the weirs are counterbalsliced b means of the weight 22 connected to the she 14.

The weirs 9, 10, 11 while operated by rods 13", 13, 13 in a manner similar to the weirs 6, 7, 8 are not necessaril operated in unison, but may be 0 erated 'ssimultaneously by reason of the act that each weir is rovided with an individual operating she as 24',

24", 24 connected through cranks 23, 23", 23 to the respective operating rods. Each weir is provided with an individual ectnat These motors are ing-motor 25, 25", 25. adapted to actuate their respem've weirs through thepperating rods thereof by any nous we'irs drops into the common reservoir receptacle 32, where, iffdesired, it may be cooled'by especially provided means, and

then pumped into the manifold 29 by thev umpBO.

In order to predetormine the rate of supplying liquid resistance material to the re-v spective receptacles. bellies 33, 33", 33 are provided, each operated by a rod 34 which may be raised and lowered in any suitable ,mnnner as by means of a nut 35 see Fig;

1.) The rods 84 extend upwar y to a convenient point for adjustment. The bellies i by any systemof suitable and desirable type.

also serve the purpose of preventing surface agitation, asboiling' and foaming, of the liquid as it enters the receptacles and immerses the electrodes.

Control and limit switches 36 are provided for each motor 25, etc., which may be operated in any suitable manner. as by a chain drive 37 connected to the shafts 24, etc. The motors 25, etc, may becontrolled The operation of the apparatus is as followsc-It being assumed that the electrodes of the respective receptacles are connected to the motors to be controlled in a manner well known tothose skilled in the art and it is desired to start said motors from standstill the weirs 6, 7, 8 are closed to any des red extent by means of the "hand wheel 20. The pump motor 31 new then be started in any suitable manner whereupon liquid resistance material will be supplied to the receptaclesfl, 3, 4 at predetermined rates. The rate-of immersion, and thus the rate of increase of speed of any given motor may then be further determined by the amount of closure of the respective weirs 9. 10, 11. The amount of closure of said weirs is of course controlled by the motors 25, 25", 25, and as-these motors are individually coutrollable in any desired manner the rate of increase or decrease of speed of any of the controlled motors may also be controlled in any desired manner. If it is desired, for

example, that the motor connected to the electrode in receptacle Qshall operate at. a higher speed than the motor associated with the receptacleill, the, 91119 will be closed to a greater extent; than the'v'veir 10.; The

same clearlyeppliesto the relative speeds as between an?!' :of the other motors. Assuming t at .the'res'pective mill motors have been broughtto and erebeingmuin- .tained at the desired relative speeds vand it is desired to changethe speed of all of the motors in unison a r0portionateamount with respect to their individual speeds, the hand wheel 20 is operated, say, to open the weirs 6, 7, 8, thereby lowering the respective levels in the receptacles 2, 3, 4, proportion.

shorter than reee tacles-tl, 4, the corresponding: weirs being 1: on also of a dilfrent size. This provides for the 'controlfof motors of.

a different size necessitating the use of also trodes of different sizes. The erence in size of weirs -6, 7,3 will thus maintain the desired; 'roportion, lLS determined by Weirs 9, 10,11 in the liquid levels in the respective receptacles as the weirs 6, 7,, 8 are opened end closed-to a greater or lessextent.

"It should be understood that it is not'desired that the invention claimed be limited to the exact details ofconstruction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by ters Patent:

l. A motor-control apparatus comprising a plurality ofrheostats, means whereby the resistance offered by said rheostats may be brou ht to and maintained at redetermine d likvelues'ordifierent va ues, and means operable independent/l of said first mentioned means whereby t e resistances may be simultaneously varied kee ing the relative proportions substantially t e same.

2;. A rheostat comprising a plurality of electrode-containing receptacles, means for supplying liquid resistcnce'muterial to each of said receptacles, means whereby the liquid lerols in said receptacles may be brought to and maintained at predetermined desired relative proportions, and means op crable independently of said first mentioned means whereby the liquid levels may be simultaneously variedkeeping said relative proportions substantially the some.

'3. A rhe'ostat comprising a plurality of electrode-containing receptacles, means for supplying liquid resistance material to each of said receptacles at a predetermined rate, means for discharging liquid material from each of said receptacles at definite desired rates respectively whereby the liquid level is maintainahlc in each receptacle at a definite desired level, and means operable independently of said first mentioned means for discharging liquid material from each of said receptacles at a rate such that the relative levels will remain substantially the same. I i

4. A motor-control apparatus comprising a plurality of rheostats, means whereby the resistance offered by said rheostats may be brought to and maintained at predetermined desired relative proportions, and- 'means whereby the resistances may be simultaneously varied keeping said relative proportions substantially the same withoutidisturbing the setting of said former means.

5. Arheostatcomprising a plurality of electrode-containing receptacles, means for supplying liquid resistance material to each of said receptacles, means whereby the liquid levels in said receptacles may be brought to and maintained at predetermined desired relative proportions, and means whereby the liquid levels may be simultaneously varied, keeping said relative proportions substantially the same without disturb ing the setting of said former means.

6. A rheostat comprising a plurality of electrode-containing receptacles, means for supplying liquid resistance material to each of said receptacles at a predetermined rate,

means whereby said liquid material may be,

permitted to flow from said receptacles at respectively the same variable rate and other means whereby said liquid material may be permitted to flow from said receptacles at respectively different variable rates.

7. A rheostat comprising a plurality of electrode-containing receptacles, means for supplying liquid resistance material to each of said receptacles at a predetermined rate, means whereby the liquid levels in said receptacles may be varied dissimultaneously and kept at definite like or different levels, and means whereby the liquid levels in said receptacles may be varied simultaneously.

8. A rheostat comprising a, plurality of electrode-containing receptacles, means for supplying liquid resistance material to said receptacles, a set of two weirs associated with each of said receptacles, manually operable means associated with one weir of each set for operating the associated weirs in unison, a plurality of electro-responsive means, one means associated with one weir of each set whereby said electro-responsively operated weiis may be operated dissimul taneously or simultaneously as desired.

9. A rheostat comprising a plurality of electrode-containing receptacles, means for Supplying liquid resistance material, means for connecting said supply-means to each of said receptacles, a set of two weiis associated with each of said receptacles, manually operated means associated with one weir of each set for operating the associated weirs in unison, a plurality ofmotois, one associated with one weir of each set whereby said motor operated weirs may be operated dissimultaneously or simultaneously as desired.

10.A' rheostat comprising an elect-rodecontairiing receptacle, means for supplying liquidresista rice material to said receptacle, and two weirs for yarying and maintaining the liqui d level in said receptacle at desired points.

a 1 11. A 'rheostat comprising a plurality of electrode-containing receptacles, means for supplying l-iquidresistance material to said receptacles, means"assdciated with each receptacle ffti'r ;predetermining the" rate at which liquid is suppliedthereto comprising a bafile in the receptacles.

12. A rheostat comprising a. plurality of electrode-containing receptacles each having an inlet opening, means for supplying li uid resistance material connected to said in ct opening, and an adjustable baflle in the receptacle near each inlet opening.

13. A rheostat comprising an electrodecontaining receptacle, means for supplying liquid resistance material to said receptacle, and means associated with said receptacle for predetermining the rate at which liquid is supplied thereto and for minimizing agitation of the surface of the liquid in the receptacle.

14. A rheostat comprising an electrodecontaining receptacle having an inlet opening in the bottom thereof, a ballle near said opening, a rod connected to said battle and extending upwardly therefrom to a point near the top of the receptacle, and means fOr giving vertical motion to said rod.

15. A rheostat comprising an electrodecontaining receptacle having an inlet opening in the bottom thereof and a substan tially horizontal balile near said opening.

16. A rheostat comprising a plurality of electrodercontaining receptacles. means for supplying liquid resistance material to said receptacles, a set of two weirs associated with each of said receptacles, means asso ciated with one weir of each set for operat ing the associated weirs in unison, and a plurality of means, one means associated with one weir of each set whereby said last named weirs may be operated dissimultaneously or simultaneously as desired.

17. A rheostat comprising a plurality of electrode-containing receptacles, means for supplying liquid resistance material to said receptacles, a set of two wcirs associated with each of said receptacles, means associated with one weir of each set for Operating the associated weirs in unison, and means whereby the remaining weirs may be operated dissimultaneously or simultane ously as desired.

l8v A rheostat comprising a plurality of electrode-containing receptacles, said recep tacles being adapted for connection to a plurality of motors respectively, means for sup plying liquid resistance material to each of said receptacles at a predetermined rate, means whereby the liquid in said receptacles may be varied dissimultaneously and kept at definite like or different operating levels, and means whereby the liquid levels in said receptacles may be varied simultaneously 1!). In combination, a plurality of motors for driving a machine operating. on a substantially continuous web, a plurality of rheostats for controlling said motors'respectively, means for independently varying the resistances offered by said rheostats whereby the relative speeds of said=1notors may stantially continuous Web, a plurality of liquid 'rheostats for controllin; said motors respectively, means for independently \-'ar ing the liquid levels in said rheostats whereby the relative speeds of said motors may be changed, and means for simultaneously varying the liquid levels of said rheostats in such manner that. the speed of all the motors may be varied while keeping their relative speeds constant In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is afiixed hereto.

ALEX. J, NIGHT, JR. 

